Microplastics (MPs), including polymers such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS), are widespread environmental contaminants detected in air, water, soil, and food. These particles originate from the breakdown of larger plastics and from direct industrial and consumer sources, including packaging, textiles, and personal care products. MPs enter the human body primarily through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, with food, water, and air serving as major exposure pathways. Once internalized, MPs have been found in various human tissues and biological fluids, indicating their capacity for bioaccumulation. Toxicological studies in experimental models and occupational settings link MP exposure to oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular dysfunction, and potential organ toxicity, including effects on the gastrointestinal, respiratory, immune, reproductive, and nervous systems. PVC microplastics, in particular, are associated with liver toxicity and increased cancer risk in occupationally exposed populations. MPs can also act as vectors for environmental pollutants and plastic-associated chemicals, further amplifying health risks. This review summarizes the classification, major sources, exposure routes, and toxicological activity of MPs. A comprehensive understanding of MP properties is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate their persistent harmful effects on public health and the environment. Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Background: Measuring the concentration of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) in HBV patients can be determined with immunoassay techniques. This study aimed to measure the HbsAg titers in chronic HBV patients and to assess its correlation with patients' ages, gender, and with the levels of liver enzymes and total serum bilirubin. Materials and Method: Fifty-eight chronic hepatitis B infected patients were enrolled in this study. Age and gender of the patients were recorded. HbsAg concentration was tested with automated Immunoanalyzer. The patients were also tested for ALT, AST, ALP, and TSB by automated chemistry analyzer. Results: All the chronic HBV patients have positive HBsAg titers above the negative cutoff (0.05U/L) with mea
... Show MoreCondensation of 1,2- dibromo ethane with para hydroxy benzoic acid gave 1,2-Ethane-bis- 4-oxybenzoic [1]. This Compound was converted with the thionyl chloride to give 1,2-Ethane-bis- 4-oxybenzoyl chloride [2]. Reaction of compound [2] with thiosemicarbizades gave 1,2-Ethanebis[4-oxybenzoyl-thiosemicarbazide] [3] and opteined 1,2-Ethane-bis[3-mercapto-5-phenoxy- 1,2,4-triazole] [4] from treatment compound [3] with NaOH (4%) .The new compounds 1,2- Ethane-bis[3-(substituted thioacyl)-4-(substituted acyl)-5 phenoxy-1,2,4-triazole] [5a-d] and 1,2- Ethane-bis[3-(substituted alkylthio)-5 phenoxy-1,2,4-trizole] [5e-f] derived from compound [4] were synthesized and characterized by physical and spectral data. All the compounds [4], [5a-d] and [5e-
... Show MoreThis research aims to clarify and define the most important philosophical and rhetorical concepts to which many philosophical and rhetorical issues refer، since they have an effective role in the diversity and difference of intellectual schools، which are indispensable in proving major dogmatic issues، such as the concept of (existence، being، essence، and authenticity). Existence or Essence in contrast to the consideration of the other concept)، because it is one of the complex concepts and common words that carry different connotations among thinkers.
And from (the rule of judging something is a branch of its perception)، the researchers began to define these concepts، as evidence of the sincerity of perce
... Show MoreBSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris(AV)is chronic inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous unit of young people. Patients with acne with or with out scarring might differ in regard to their immunological background from those free from acne. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the problem of facial AV especially patients with scarring and to determine the frequency of associated skin diseases and to be compared with acne free control. METHODS: A cross sectional randomized controlled epidemiological study was conducted from Oct.2005-Oct. 2006.Three hundred students from Basra University; 132 (44%) males and 168 (56%) females were enrolled, their ages ranged from 18-25 (20.9±1.8) years. They were divided into: Group A those free from acne (98 individuals),G
... Show MoreWe propose a novel strategy to optimize the test suite required for testing both hardware and software in a production line. Here, the strategy is based on two processes: Quality Signing Process and Quality Verification Process, respectively. Unlike earlier work, the proposed strategy is based on integration of black box and white box techniques in order to derive an optimum test suite during the Quality Signing Process. In this case, the generated optimal test suite significantly improves the Quality Verification Process. Considering both processes, the novelty of the proposed strategy is the fact that the optimization and reduction of test suite is performed by selecting only mutant killing test cases from cumulating t-way test ca
... Show MoreThis study investigates the factors that led to the outbreak of protest movements in Sudan, since Sudan’s independence in 1956 until December 2018. The study aims to identify the role of protests in bringing about political and social transformations in Sudan, besides identifying the factors that help in the success or failure of the governments that resulted from those protests, with special emphasis on the challenges of the government of the 2018 revolution. The main results of the study reveal that the December 2018 protests are the largest in term of numbers, and witness huge participation of youth and women, and the slogans raised were national and comprehensive. However, the challenges that the transitional government is going th
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